Investigators may use the 2018 cap of $189,600 in preparing proposal budgets. However, in keeping with the practice we have used in the past, Ohio State will start utilizing the new cap limit for salary cap processing on eligible projects effective July 1, 2018. The reason for this practice is to mitigate to some extent the impact on current awards where funds will have to be re-budgeted to cover the increased salary costs.

MESSAGE FROM RANDY MOSES, INTERIM SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH

Congress ended the three-day federal government shutdown on Monday, January 22, 2018, by passing a stopgap bill that keeps federal funds flowing through February 8. However, there remains the possibility that we could face another shutdown.

We do not expect that another brief shutdown will have a major impact on the direct conduct of research projects at Ohio State. The impact could be significant in the event of a longer shutdown.

During a shutdown, here is what you can expect, based on our recent experience:

Work on federally funded projects can go forward as usual unless the funding agency issues a stop work order. In such cases, the Office of Sponsored Programs would receive a project specific notification. A stop work order is more likely to happen for contracts than grants.

Many federal websites and business applications including NIH.gov, NSF.gov, nifa.usda.gov, FastLane, and Research.gov will likely either be unavailable or have disabled features. Grants.gov and some other federal systems would continue to operate, but have little or no support for problem resolution. Other systems, e.g., FastLane, would not be available.

Federal agency program officers and grants management staff would not be available to answer questions, approve requests, etc.

Much of the administration relative to federal funding would be on hold. New funding opportunities would not be issued, panel reviews would be postponed, and no new grants or no-cost extensions would be awarded. Federal agencies have filed shutdown contingency plans that provide information about what might happen during a future shutdown.

We recommend that investigators continue proposal preparation and internal submission. If a shutdown occurs, our Office of Sponsored Programs will hold proposals centrally until federal systems are functioning again.

Additional information is available in an Office of Management and Budget memorandum outlining issues related to the federal government’s Planning for Agency Operations during a Potential Lapse in Appropriations.

Investigators may use the 2017 cap of $187,000 in preparing proposal budgets. However, in keeping with the practice we have used in the past, Ohio State will start utilizing the new cap limit for salary cap processing on eligible projects effective July 1, 2017. The reason for this practice is to mitigate to some extent the impact on current awards where funds will have to be re-budgeted to cover the increased salary costs.

The Final Research Performance Progress Report (F-RPPR) will replace the Final Progress Report (FPR) for grants closeout, effective January 1, 2017. The F-RPPR will be available for use in eRA Commons on January 1, 2017.

What This Means for You

If you have a final progress report due, and you wish to use the old FPR format of an uploaded document, you must submit the FPR before January 1, 2017. NIH will no longer accept any of the old format FPRs on or after January 1, 2017.

The Format

The format of the Final RPPR is very similar to that of the annual RPPR, the notable differences being the F-RPPR does not have sections F (Changes) and H (Budget).

Also, please note that just as with annual RPPRs, once completed, you will need to route the F-RPPR to your SPO so they can submit it.

The Changes

The F-RPPR does have a new section: Section I (Outcomes). Project Outcomes (Section I) will be made publicly available, allowing recipients the opportunity to provide the general public with a concise summary of the public significance of the research

A significant change with implementation of the F-RPPR, is that in order to maximize public transparency, NIH will not maintain the current Type 2 policy which in accordance with NIHGPS Chapter 8.6.2 states that “whether funded or not” the progress report contained in the Type 2 application may serve in lieu of a separate final progress report. As a standard policy, NIH will request that organizations submit an “Interim-RPPR” while their renewal application (Type 2) is under consideration. In the event that the Type 2 is funded, NIH will treat the Interim-RPPR as the annual performance report for the final year of the previous competitive segment. If the Type 2 is not funded, the Interim-RPPR will be treated by NIH staff as the institution’s Final-RPPR

Deadline Remains Unchanged

The deadlines for submitting a Final RPPR remain the same – no later than 120 days from the project end date.

The NIH says that FAQs and additional information pertaining to NIH’s implementation of the F-RPPR, including instructions, will be available on the NIH RPPR website in the near future.

The NIH has announced that the salary cap for grant, cooperative agreement and contract awards remains tied to Federal Executive Level II. Effective Jan 10, 2016, Executive Level II will increase to $185,100, up from $183,300.

Investigators should begin using the 2016 cap of $185,100 immediately in preparing proposal budgets. However, in keeping with the practice we have used in the past, we will not begin charging NIH funded projects the new cap rate until July 1, 2016. The reason for this practice is to mitigate to some extent the impact on on-going awards where funds will have to be re-budgeted to cover the increased salary costs.

When do the changes go into effect? On 11/25/15, via NOT-OD-16-029 the NIH announced the release of the new, revised application forms and guides effective for applications due January 25 through May 24, 2016. During this period, revised FORMS-C application forms and instructions should be used. In a second phase of the 2016 revision, FORMS-D forms should be used beginning May 25, 2016; an application guide to these forms will be released in late March.

What is the rationale for these changes? These changes are part of a new NIH initiative designed to improve the rigor of experimental design and to increase the reproducibility of scientific experiments. It is important to note that these changes will be included in the new Study Section proposal review and scoring criteria. See NOT-OD-16-011 or the NIH information page available here for details on this initiative.

What proposals will be affected? Most grant applications will be affected by this change, including R01, R03, R21, and all K (career development awards).

What are the changes? Major changes to the FORMS-C are summarized in NOT-OD-16-004, with FAQs available here.

Changes include:

Updates to instructions for preparing the research strategy attachment have been added, additions as below:

Significance section

Describe the scientific premise for the proposed project, including consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of published research or preliminary data crucial to the support of your application.

Approach section

Describe the experimental design and methods proposed and how they will achieve robust and unbiased results.

Explain how relevant biological variables, such as sex, are factored into research designs and analyses for studies in vertebrate animals and humans. For example, strong justification from the scientific literature, preliminary data, or other relevant considerations, must be provided for applications proposing to study only one sex. Refer to NOT-OD-15-102 for further consideration of NIH expectations about sex as a biological variable.

Use of a new “Authentication of Key Biological and/or Chemical Resources” attachment is required; in this attachment applicants are instructed to “Briefly describe methods to ensure the identity and validity of key biological and/or chemical resources used in the proposed studies.” These include cell lines, specialty chemicals, antibodies and other biologics. Do not include standard reagents (e.g. buffers, solvents). Information in this section must focus only on authentication/validation of key resources used in the study; all other methods and preliminary data must be included within the page limits of the research strategy. Save this information in a single file named “Authentication of Key Resources Plan,” and attach it as Item 12, Other Attachments, on the Other Project Information form

Updated instructions for documents related to use of Vertebrate animals, see NOT-OD-16-006.

Updated guidance on criteria to be addressed (description of procedures; justifications; minimization of pain and distress; and euthanasia)

A description of veterinary care is no longer required

Justification for the number of animals has been eliminated

A description and justification of the method of euthanasia is required only if the method is not consistent with AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals

Changing the definition of a child to individuals under the age of 18 instead of 21 (NOT-OD-16-010.)

By January 25, 2016, the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) instructions will be updated to include the following additional guidance for 6.2 Section B – Accomplishments, in addition to the existing instructions. Progress reports submitted on or after January 25, 2016 that are initiated prior to the instruction updates may use the current forms while following these additional instructions. The instructions that will address rigor are listed below for your convenience.

2 What was accomplished under these goals?

Include the approaches taken to ensure robust and unbiased results.

6 What do you plan to do for the next reporting period to accomplish these goals?

Discuss efforts to ensure that the approach is scientifically rigorous and results are robust and unbiased.

Changes to NSF Applications/Proposals

When do the changes go into effect? On 10/15/2015, the NSF announced changes to the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). These changes are in effect for all proposals with due dates on or after January 26th, 2016 and awards made on or after January 26, 2016.

Chapter I.F: A clarification that NSF will enforce its proposal deadline policy; i.e. that organizations will not be able to submit proposals after 5:00 local time. No solicitations will be issued with a different time due.

Chapter II.C.1.e: The addition of the new “Collaborators & Other Affiliations” single-copy document that requires all senior project personnel to provide information regarding collaborators and other affiliations. The requirement to provide the total number of collaborators and other affiliations is removed from the biosketch. This replaces the previous requirement to provide this information as part of the Biosketch.

Chapter II.C.2.f: A separate Biosketch for each person named as senior personnel must be provided. Biosketches for all senior personnel cannot be combined into a single PDF file. Section E “Colllaborators and Other Affiliations” is removed from the biosketch.

Chapter II.C.2.h: In the Current and Pending support document or form, all current project support must be listed, including internal funds allocated toward specific projects. A separate document or form must be provided for each person named as senior personnel.

Chapter II.D.14: The Dual Research of Concern (DURC) is a new section and states that proposing organizations are responsible for identifying NSF-funded life sciences proposals that could potentially be considered dual use research of concern, as defined in the US Government Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern.

Chapter II.C.2.b, Project Summary: only Project Summaries that use special characters may be uploaded in the Supplementary Documents section. Uploaded Project Summaries must contain separate headings for Overview, Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts or the proposal will be returned without review.